The EFESTO Group participated, with two research projects, in the public notice of the Campania Region for the funding of innovative PhDs with industrial characterisation (PR Campania ESF+ 2021/2027 – Specific Objective ESO 4.7).
Thanks to the collaboration between the University of Naples Federico II, CNR-ISASI and the partner company TRESOL S.r.l., two PhD projects in the Physics and Industrial Engineering courses were presented and approved, with the common objective of accelerating the energy transition through technological solutions based on vacuum and advanced materials. Each PhD experience includes 9 months of training abroad and 6-9 months of in-company training.
PhD Project 1 – “HV-MLI: High-Vacuum Solutions for the Optimisation of Thermal Energy Transport and Storage Lines”
Coordinated by the Department of Industrial Engineering, this project aims to develop high vacuum insulated modular piping (HV-MLI) for high-efficiency energy applications, such as solar thermal power plants, district heating and liquid hydrogen networks.
Through the integration of reflective layers and getter materials, and with a period of advanced research at CERN in Geneva, the project aims to drastically reduce thermal losses, extending the typical performance of cryogenic vacuum to the industrial environment. The final phase of the work will be conducted at TRESOL, where the system will be tested under real operating conditions.
PhD Project 2 – “High-efficiency selective solar absorbers for vacuum panels: cermets and high entropy materials for the energy transition”
Developed by the Physics Department, the second project focuses on the realisation of innovative selective coatings for flat vacuum solar panels produced by TRESOL. The aim is to overcome the limitations of commercial coatings at high temperatures by designing new nanocomposite layers based on cermets and high entropy alloys, capable of maintaining high thermal and optical performance up to 450 °C.
The project involves research activities at the prestigious Fraunhofer ISE in Germany and will culminate with the validation of the new absorbers on a full scale in the company’s demonstration solar field.
Both projects embody the EFESTO group’s mission: to transform scientific knowledge into concrete technologies for sustainable energy. The initiative is fully in line with the objectives of the ESF+ Regional Programme, promoting higher education, technology transfer and industrial development in the Campania advanced solar industry.
If funded, the two PhD scholarships will be in addition to the scholarships already provided by the departments. The deadline for submitting an application is Monday 7 July at 12 noon, using the PICA platform. Thanks to this opportunity, two young researchers will be able to contribute at the forefront of innovation, acquiring excellent skills in multidisciplinary, international and high-impact application environments.